Fruit peeling and coring machine



March 22, 1949. c, oss I 2,465,223

FRUIT FEELING AND CORING MACHINE Filed-May 51, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,4. C. GROSS INVENTOR.

March 22,1949 A, c. GROSS 2,465,223

FRUIT FEELING AND CORING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1945 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A c GROSS 1N VEN TOR.

v ATTORNEY A. C. GROSS FRUIT FEELING AND GORING MACHINE March 22, 1949.

Filed May 51, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 k A c. @9055 INVENTOR. v BY M ATTORNEY ,vm llll March 22, 1949." A, c, GROSS 2,465,223

FRUIT FEELING AND CORING MACHINE [NVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES .ATENT OF Claims.

This invention relates to fruit processing apparatus, and has particular reference to a machine for removing the rinds from citrus fruit, such as grapefruit, oranges, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine whereby the rinds may be removed from fruit of the described class and leaving the meat of the same whole for canning.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for removing not only the rinds from citrus fruit, but the mesocarp or inner rind from whole fruit in preparation for canning in order to eliminate the bitter taste the referred to inner rind causes in the canned fruit.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in addition to the foregoing objects, a mechanism whereby the core of the fruit is also removed.

Generally, the invention contemplates the removal of rinds and cores from fruit quickly and efficiently in preparation for canning whereby the whole fruit may ultimately be served.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an eX- emplary form of the invention and particularly showing the various stages of the fruit during the hereinafter described process.

Figure 2 is a broken plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a broken elevational view of a portion of the fruit actuating mechanism.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the cam shaft and showing the various cams positioned thereon.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the core mechanism of the machine and showing a partially processed fruit positioned therein.

Figure 6 is a broken elevational view similar to Figure 1 and showing the coring mechanism in its relative position.

Figure '7 is a lateral sectional view of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 6, and

Figure 8 is an end view of the machine and showing the relative position of the primary cutters.

Accordingly, the illustrated form of the invention includes a substantially rectangular frame I and having a pair of parallel guide rails 2 secured near the top thereof. The upper edges of the rails 2 have angular notches 3 formed therein at spaced intervals, and which notches each have relatively large included angles.

Above the rails 2. and disposed parallel with respect thereto, there is a rectangular actuating frame 4. The frame 4 is comprised of parallel side members 5, rigidly attached cross members 6, and rigidly secured depending hooks 1, which hooks are spaced at intervals equal to the spaces between the heretofore referred to notches 3. Lugs 8 project laterally and outwardly from the hooks l to support the frame 4 and to engage the notches 3.

Below the parallel rails 2, and also supported by the frame I there is another pair of parallel rails 9 having notches M in their upper edges, and which notches are positioned directly below the first referred to notches 3.

Referring now to Figures 1, 3, and 6, lifting pawls M are positioned above each of the rail notches 3 and are pivotally retained as shown by means of brackets 52 attached to the sides of the said rails. The pawls H are relatively long and their points normally rest against the upper edge of the rails 2 by gravity. At the feed end of the frame i, and supported by an outwardly extending bracket I3, there is a vertically disposed pivoted lever M which, in turn, is pivotally joined with the actuating frame 4 by a link l5.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2, and 8, the frame I rotatably supports a transverse drive shaft l6, and which shaft receives power from any source, as by means of the pulley H. The drive shaft i6 is connected with a cam shaft l8 by belts l9, or the like, each shaft being provided with pulleys 2i} and 2! respectively.

Secured to the cam shaft 58 there is a cam 22 which imparts timed alternating movement to the described vertical lever M by means of an arm 23 pivoted to the said lever and which arm is engaged at its other end, with the said cam. The cam action thus imparted to the lever It causes a reciprocating movement of the upper frame i, and by reason of the described pawl ii and notch 3 construction described, a reciprocating action which rises on its return movement as shown in Figure 3, is imparted to the hooks l.

Transversely supported by the frame I there is a shaft 24 having thereon a pulley 25, a belt 26 mounted on the latter and which belt is driven by a pulley '27 mounted on the drive shaft it. Also mounted on the shaft 24 there is a casting 28 mounted for free rotation. At one end of the casting 28 there is a journaled shaft 29 driven by a pulley 3!] and a belt 3| connected to the supporting shaft 2!. Also supported and driven by the shaft 29 there is a multiple of disk cutters 32 having a spacer 33 therebetween. The arrangement of the cutters which are of different diameters, has the larger cutters positioned outwardly of the smaller cutters.

The described casting 28 includes an extending arm 34 for slidably contacting a cam 35 secured on the previously referred to cam shaft IS. The described cam 35 and accompanying shaft arrangement provides for the limited inward and outward movement of the cutters 32, as well as means for driving the same.

A pressure wheel 36 having-radially disposed pins 3'! about its periphery is mounted in a manner similar to the one for supporting-the described cutters 32. A lateral shaftl38 is rotatably supported by the frame I and includes thereon a pulley 39. The latter is driven by-another pulley Ml mounted on the drive shaft l6 and connected with the other pulley 39 by a belt or the like 4|. A casting 42 is also rotatably mounted on the driven shaft 38 and, in turn, rotatably supports another shaft -43 extending through its upper end. The shaft 53 supports a pulley 44 which is driven by another pulley 45 -.mounted on the connecting shaft 38 and having a belt 46 around the associated pulleys and 45. The pressure-wheel 35 is mounted on the shaft 43 supported by thecasting 42 and .is capable of limited angular movement about the said shaft and relative to the cutters 32. The casting 42 includes an extending arm 41 which acts against a cam 48 mounted on the cam shaft i8.

Referring now to Figures l, 2,3 and 8, a pin 49 having a point at one end thereof is positioned through the longitudinal center of the core of the fruit |l-at-the beginning of the peeling operation. As will 'beseen from the description of operation, the fruit 56, during the peeling operation, is acted upon by the cutters '32 and,-by

reason of the action of the cam-:48, the pressure wheel 36 engages the center of the fruit to rotate and press the same against the action of the vcutters32.

Referring now to Figures 2, 5, 6 and '7, the invention includes a coring mechanism-5| which is indicated in Figure 1 only by its supporting bracket 52. The coring mechanism 5| includes a supporting-shaft 53 at one end thereof and sup- .portedby the bracket '52 secured to the frame I. Another, but larger bracket x 54, also supported by the frame I, supports the otherendof the assembly-5|. The coring'assembly 5| includes a pair of opposingly arranged'cups'55 and 55 which, as will be seen, are capable of movement toward and away from each other for engaging and disengaging the fruit-50.

Integral with the'first referred to cup 55 there is a tubular shaft 51 slidably and rotatably mounted upon another tubular shaft 58, both of which are-rotatably supported by the referred to large bearing 52 which is'journaled about the said outer shaft-5T. The inner end of the inner shaft58 is reduced and has teeth at its end 'to form a tubular coring=element 58a,'the axialcenter of ewhich'is in axial alignment'with the cups 55 "and 55. The second referred to cup 56,sim'ilarly supported by an integral tubular shaft 59 is mounted on another inner tubular shaftfifl. The latteris journaled 'uponthe previously referred to curing assembly supporting shaft '53.

About'the last referredto cup shaft'59 and splined thereto, there is a slidable pulley 6| which includes an angular groove 62 for engaging the ends of a yoke 63. Lateral pins 64 project inwardly fromthe inner face of the pulley' 6| and engage the other cylindrical cam 1|.

pass through openings 65 in the second referred to cup 56. Between the pulley GI and the cup 56 there is a compression spring 66 for normally urging the said cup toward the fruit 50. The supporting tubular shaft 60 similarly supports another compression spring 61 between a shoulder 68 thereon and an internal shoulder 89 within the outer shaft 59. The effect of the last referred to spring is to normally urge the pin 49 outwardly through the corer supporting tube 58 when the latter is actuated in the manner to be described.

Referring now to Figures 2, 4, 6 and 8, the cam shaft I8 is provided with cylindrical cams 10 and II which actuate the cups 55 and 56, as well as the pins 64 and the longitudinal movement of the coring element 58a.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and 7, the pulley 6| splined to its supporting shaft 59 not only rotates the cups 55 and 56, but the pins 64, and the supporting shafts 51, 58, 59 and 68 as well. The latter operation is carried out by means of a pulley 12 mounted on the drive shaft |6, another pulley "l3 mounted on a, driven shaft H and a belt 15 connected therebetween. Another pulley l6 and belt I? drive the coring assembly pulley 6|.

The previously referred to yoke 63 which engages the pulley groove 62, is an integral part of a pivoted. lever arm' 18, the other end of which is engaged in one of the cylindrical earns 10. As shown in Figure 2 the. lever arm-l8 issupported upon the frame I by means of a pivot pin 19.

Similarly, the inner and outer shafts 51 and 58 .at the other end of the coring assembly 5|, are

operated by yokes and 8|, the end of the first being engaged within a groove-51a in the end of the cup supporting shaft 51, whereas the other engages a flanged portion 5812 at the outer end of the inner shaft 58. The yokes 80 and 8| are integral with other lever arms 82 and 83 and The lever arms 82 and B3 are pivoted to the frame I by pins 84 and 85, as particularly shown in Figure 2.

Another cutter 66 operates upon the band of rind which is left about the center of the fruit 59 by reason of the spacer 33 between the first described cutters 32. The cutter 86 is supported at the outer ends of a pair of arms 81 journaled to the previously described driven shaft. Intermediate the ends of the arms 81 there is a connecting arm 88 which acts upon another cam 88, the latter being secured to the cam shaft l8.

The cutter is driven by means of a pulley 90 and a belt 9| which is connected with a pulley 92 mounted upon the shaft 93 which supports the said cutter.

By reason of the last described arrangement the cutter 86 is not only turned to remove the remaining rind of the fruit 50, but is also capable of limited angular rotation about its supporting shaft I4 so as to permit the passage of'fruit 58 as the latter progresses through the apparatus.

At the end of the frame I, supporting the coring assembly 5!, there is an outwardly extending bracket 94 having a cradle 95 thereon for slidably supporting an ejector trough 9B. The sliding action is carried out by means of a cam 91, mounted on the cam shaft l8, a connecting arm 98 pivotally secured to the trough 96 at one end and to the said cam at the other end, and pivoted guide arm 99 secured to the frame I at its one end and to the said connecting arm 98. A timed movement is thus imparted to the trough 9B-so as to move under the fruit 5|] at the completion of the peeling and coring "operatlon'an'd to allow the peeled fruit to roll from the said trough.

In operation, the pins 49 are inserted through the cores of the fruit 50 in the manner described. The projecting ends of the pins 49 are then engaged upon the first pair of hooks 1, and upon which they are successively moved from one pair of notches It in the guide rail 9 to the succeeding notches in the same rail. This action is brought about by the described movement of the upper frame member 4, the lifting at the various stages taking place by reason of the angular notches 3 in the upper edges of the frame rails 2.

Upon reaching the second pair of notches the action of the cam 35 moves the cutter 32 upwardly to remove the rind from each side of the fruit 50. At the ame time the cam 48 moves the pressure wheel 36 downwardly to rotate the fruit and to press the same against the action of the cutters 32. Through the movement of the actuating frame 4 the fruit 59 is ultimately delivered to the last pair of notches H], whereupon the cups 55 and 56 move inwardly to engage the fruit. At the same time, the last pair of hooks 1 are moved away from the cups 55 and 56 to allow the latter to engage the fruit 59. At the same time the lateral pins 55 move inwardly to engage the fruit 50, and by reason of the described coring assembly pulley (it, cause the fruit to rotate. Immediately thereafter the corer 58a moves inwardly through the center of the fruit and around the pin 49. While this is taking place the second cutter 86 moves upwardly to remove the remaining rind of the fruit 50. Thereafter the cutter 86 assumes its downward position and the ejector trough 99 moves under the fruit 59 to receive the same. The action caused by the cylindrical earns 19 and H first remove the corer 58a and the pins 64, and thereafter the cups 55 and 56 move outwardly and away from each other, thus dropping the fruit into the trough 96. As will be noted in Figure 5 each succeeding operation pushes the remaining core of the fruit 50, with its pin 49 therethrough, outwardly through the end of the corer supporting shaft 58.

The form of the invention shown and described is not restrictive, but may be made in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for removing rinds from fruit comprising a frame, a driven rotary cutter supported by the said frame, pairs of reciprocating hooks carried by the said frame, spindles for insertion through the fruit and supported at their ends by the said pairs of hooks, and means actuating the said pairs of hooks for positioning the said fruit against the said driven rotary cutter.

2. A machine for removing rinds from fruit comprising a frame, a driven rotary cutter supported by the said frame, pairs of reciprocating hooks carried by the said frame, spindles for insertion through the said fruit and supported at their ends by the said pairs of hooks, means actuating the said pairs of hooks for positioning the said fruit against the said driven rotary cutter, and a pressure wheel supported by the said frame for rotating the said fruit against the action of the said cutters.

3. A machine for removing rinds and cores from fruit comprising a frame, a driven rotary cutter supported by the said frame, pairs of reciprocating hooks carried by the said frame, spindles for insertion through the cores of fruit and supported at their ends by the said pairs of hooks, means-actuating the said pairs of hooks for positioning the said fruit against the said driven rotary cutter, and a driven coring element supported by the said frame for removing the cores from the said fruit.

4. A machine for removing rinds and cores from fruit comprising a frame, pairs of reciprocating hooks carried by the said frame, spindles for insertion through the fruit and supported at their ends by the said pairs of hooks, means actuating the pairs of hooks for positioning the said fruit against the said driven rotary cutter, a driven pressure wheel supported by the said frame for rotating the said fruit against the action of the said cutters, and a driven coring element supported by the said frame for removing the core from the said fruit after the rind has been removed from the same.

5. A machine for removing rinds from fruit comprising a frame, pairs of reciprocating hooks supported by the said frame, a driven cutter supportedby the said frame and having teeth therein arranged for removing the rinds from all but the circumferential center of the said fruit, spindles for insertion through the fruit and supported at their ends by the said hooks, means actuating the pairs of hooks for positioning the fruit against the said driven cutter, a driven pressure wheel supported by the said frame for rotating the fruit against the action of the said cutters, and an additional driven cutter supported by the said frame for removing the referred to remaining rind at the circumferential center of the said fruit.

ANGELL C. GROSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,583,100 Reynolds May 4, 1926 1,699,995 Shields Jan. 22, 1929 2,085,225 Lucks June 29, 1937 

